Football liner up device



Jan. 31, 11967 M LILLY FOOTBALL LINER UP DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 13, 1965 INVENTOR.

Jan. 31, 1967 L M |l l Y 3,300,861

FOOTBALL LINER UP DEVICE Filed July l5, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 III IN V EN TOR.

/`7. Lilly L. M. LILLY FOOTBALL LINER UP DEVICE Jan. 31, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 13, 1965 l l I l n l ATTRN Jan. 31, 1967 L. M. LlLLY FOOTBALL LINER UP DEVICE 4 Sheet5 sheet 4 Filed July 1 3I 1965 INVENTQR e0/7am /7. dlg

United States The present invention `relates to equipment for use in playing the game of football and more particularly to apparatus for properly positioning the football after the football is whistled dead, brought back on an incomplete forward pass or on a penalty called by the referee.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a liner-up device that marks the exact spot where play started after the football has been whistled dead, brought back on an incomplete forward pass or on a penalty called by the referee.

Other objects of the invention is to provide a football liner-up device of this kind that speeds up the game, eliminates all guesswork as to where the side line markers should be placed, and on all first-downs guarantees the team with the ball that the team will have exactly 10 yards to go in four downs; and will positively line up the nose of the -ball with the side line markers in quick time.

For further comprehension of the invention and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a fragment of a football playing field marked longitudinally with a linerup device embodying one form of the invention shown in operative position on a side line, parts being broken away, a football being shown in located position.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the liner-up device of FIG. 1, parts being shown broken away.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a detail perspective view of the mirrors and mounting therefor, on an enlarged scale.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the box portion of a first modified form of the invention.

FIG. 6a is a sectional view taken on the line 6a-6a of FIG. 6.

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 4 of a second modified form of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 6 of a third modified form of the invention, parts being shown closed in operative position, parts being broken away.

FIG. 10 is a similar view showing the mirrors moved to adjusted position.

FIG. 11 is a horizontal sectional view looking down on top of the mirrors of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a vertical sectional view of a liner-up embodying a fourth modified form of the invention.

FIG. 13 is a View similar to FIG. 4 of a liner-up device embodying another modied form of the invention, parts being broken away.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken on the line 14-14 of FIG. 13.

FIG. l5 is a top plan view of the base plate.

FIG. 16 is a detail view of the spike and actuating knob.

Referring now in detail tothe various views of the drawings, in FIG. l, a fragment of a football field 10 is shown diagrammatically and marked with a right hand side line 12 and a left hand side line 13 as viewed from the left end of the field, with ZO-yard lines 14 thereacross. A football 16 is shown placed in position on the field.

A liner-up device embodying one form of my invention is shown placed on a side line, the right hand side line 12 opposite the football 16, the liner-up device being generally designated at 18. The lineraup device 18 comprises an elongated round solid stick 20 with the pointed bottom end 22. An angular shaped foot pedal 23 is mounted on the stick adjacent its pointed end for driving the stick intro the ground. A rectangular shaped metal box-like casing or hollow housing 24 is supported on the top end of the stick 20. The casing or housing 24 has side walls 26, 26 end walls 28, 29 and top wall 30 as viewed in FIG. 2 and is open at the bottom. The open bottom is closed by a detachable plate forming a bottom Wall 32. The bottom wall is secured in place by set screws 34 extending through aligned holes in the side walls and edges of the bottom wall. A threaded hole 35 is formed in the -bottom wall at the center thereof to receive the top threaded end 37 of the stick 20 whereby the casing is supported on the stick. A window 36 is formed in the end wall 28, which window is closed by a pane of glass 38 with a center line 4t) extending from top to bottom thereof. The pane of glass is secured in position between a metal frame 42 and the end wall 28 by bolt and nut assemblies 44. The other end wall 29 is formed with a slit 46 extending from the top thereof to a point remote from the bottom thereof. The slit is enlarged laterally adjacent the top thereof forming a peep hole 48. Rectangular shaped openings 50, 50 are formed in the side walls 26 opposite points therealong and extend from a point close to the top of the walls to a point close to the bottom of the side walls.

In accordance with the invention, a mirro-r assembly 52 is mounted on the inner surface of the bottom wall 32. This mirror assembly comprises a pair of upstanding rectangular shaped plate 54, 54 joined along one long edge and disposed at an oblique angle to each other, one end, the *bottom end, as viewed in FIG. 5, of each, -being bent at right angles constituting a base 56 with a hole 58 in the center'thereof whereby the assembly is fixed to the bottom wall 32 by screws 6i). At the top of the plates 54, there are elongated flat narrow mirrors 62 and 64, the mirror 62 being mounted above the mirror 64 and crossing the same, the mirrors thereby being disposed at different angles whereby the mirror 62 faces one corner between one side wall 26 and the end wall 29, and the other mirror 64 faces the opposite ,corner between the other side wall 26 and the end wall 29 as seen in FIG. 3. The slit 46, in end wall 29, is in line with the point whereby the mirrors 62 and 64 cross each other as shown by dash line 66 in FIG. 3. The mirror 64 is disposed in line with the rectangular opening 50 in one side wall 26 and the mirror 62 in line with the opening 50 in the opposite side wall. The center line 40 on the glass pane 38 of window 36 is in line with the intersection of the rectangula-r plate 54, 54 as seen in FIG. 2.

In order totest the accuracy of the liner-up device 18, it is only necessary to place the liner-up device 18 opposite the SO-yard line on the football field with the middle of the liner-up device over one of the side lines, such as the right hand side line 12 as shown in FIG. 1, with the window 36 facing the center of the SO-yard line. The operator looks through the peep hole 48 at the top of the slit 46 in wall 29 and locates the center of the SO-yard line, cross the field. The eye of the operator is then dropped one-eighth of an inch whereupon the portion of the side line 12, to the right of the liner-up device, will appear directly under and lined up with the SO-yard line. Next the eye of the operator is dropped one-eighth inch farther down along the slit 46 whereupon the portion of the side line 12 to the left of the liner-up will appear directly under and lined up with both the Sil-yard line and the portion of the side line 12 to the right 'of the liner-up. The three lines, to wit, the 50-yard line, the portion of the side line 12 to the right of the liner-up and the portion of the side line 12 to the left of the liner-up will appear running across the football eld.

The center line 40 on the pane of `glass 38 in window 36 is next positioned in the center of the three lines whereupon a perfect mark is reached and shows clearly that the liner-up device 1S is ready for use during a game of football.

In using the liner-up device 18 during the progress of a football game, the same procedure is followed as in testing but the SO-yard line is not used or needed as the two portions of the side lines converge providing a direct line to the football. During a game, the liner-up device 1S is positioned on the center of one of the side lines of the football eld, such as the right hand line 12 as viewed from the left in FIG. 1, with the middle of the casing of the liner-up device over the side line, with the window 36 facing the field. The operator looks through the peep :hole 48 at the top of the slit 46 in wall 29 and locates the football. The eye of the operator is dropped oneeighth of an inch whereupon the portion of the side line 12 to the right of :the liner-up device will appear cast across the field. Next the eye of the operator is dropped one-eighth of an inch farther down along the slit 46 whereupon the portion of the side `line 12 to the left of the liner-up will appear cast across the field in a straight line behind the line cast for the portion of the side line 12 to the right of the liner-up device. The center line 40 in window 3S is then lined up with the center of the two lines crossing the field in order to locate the ball. If the center line 40 is not on the nose of the ball, linerup device 1S is moved along the side line until the line is on the target, the stick 20 anchored in the ground by pressing on the foot pedal 23 whereupon the device is ready for correctly positioning the lO-yard chain, after the ball is whistled dead, after an incompleted forward pass or after a penalty has been called.

In FIGS. 6, 6a and 7, a modified form of liner-up device 18 is shown and differs from the liner-up device 18 merely in that one end wall, end wall 29 is slightly larger than end wall Z8 and is slightly curved. Furthermore, the rectangulanshaped side openings 50', 50 are in the curved portion of the end ywall 29 and these openings are adapted to Ibe closed by movable segmental closure plates 7i) swingably mounted on the bottom wall 32'. The segmental closure plates each consists of a curved rectangular body 72 with a rectangular shaped opening 74 therein corresponding in shape and dimensions with the openings 50. Each body is formed with a triangular shaped bottom iiange 76 extending at right angles to the body along and over the bottom wall 32 and with a similarly shaped top flange '78 extending over the top wall The pointed ends of the Ibottom lianges 76 overlap and are pivotally connected by a pivot pin 80 extending through aligned holes therethrough. The blunt pointed ends of the top flanges 78 are formed with teeth 82 in opposed relation and spaced from each other. Each top flange 7S is formed with a closed curved slot 34 in which rides a headed pin 86 for guiding the movement of the closure plates. Au elongated ilat actuating rack bar 88 reciprocates 4between the toothed ends of the top flanges 78 and is formed with teeth 90 along the side edges thereof meshing with the teeth 82 on the top flanges whereby the closure plates are moved back and forth in the direction of the arrows 92 shown in FIG. 6. A knob 94 is Iiixed on the outer end of the Ibar 83 for moving the bar. A strap 96 across the top wall 30 guides the bar in its movements. By swinging the closure plates 70 over the openings 50', 50 such openings may be closed for focusing the naked eye on the football for initially and temporarily positioning the liner-up 18.

Another modified form of liner-up device 18 is shown in FIG. 8 and this device 18 differs from the liner-up device 18 merely in that the mirrors 62 and 64 are suspended from the top wall 30 by means of an angular bracket 52 secured to the top wall by a screw 69" extending through a base 56" instead of 'being mounted on the bottom wall 32".

In the modied form of liner-up 18a shown in FIGS. 9 to 1l, inclusive, the mirrors 62a and 64a are mounted slidably instead of being xed as in liner-up 18. The mirror 62a has a vertically disposed rectangular body supported on a similarly shaped bracket 54a with a right angularly disposed vbase 56a formed with an elongated closed slot 58a to receive a guiding headed pin 60a.

The mirror 64a is shaped similarly to mirror 62a and mounted on a similarly constructed and movable 'bracket 54a with a right angularly disposed base 56a with an elongated closed slot 58a to receive a guiding headed pin 60a. The mirrors are disposed at oblique angles `to each other and are adapted to be moved away from each other at their abutting elongated edges 'by a plunger 100 having a iiat plate-like body with slanting shoulders 102 adapted to engage the ends of the bases 56a and 56a. One end of the body is narrow as indicated at 106 and extends through a slot 1M in the end wall 29a below the slit 46a.

End 106 is formed with an angular linger piece 108 for actuating the plunger. When the plunger is manually pushed inwardly, the brackets 54a with their mirrors 62a and 64a are forced apart against the action of an elongated spring 110 looped around a peg 112 fixed in the bottom wall 32a of t-he casing and formed with diverging arms 114 normally engaging and pushing the brackets with mirrors against each other.

In all other respects, the liner-up 18a is similar to linerup 18 and similar reference numerals are used to indicate similar parts. The liner 18a functions similarly to liner 18 of FIG. l. In addition, the reectors 62a and 64a may Abe manually separated by means of the lever 100 in order initially to permit the human eye to locate the football whereupon the reflectors are retracted to closed position in order to reflect the side lines, which with the center line properly locate the football.

FIG. l2 illustrates a modiiied form of mounting the mirrors 62x and 64x and for separating the same. In this form, the mirrors 62x and 64 are tilta'bly mounted in a recess 116 formed in the bottom wall 32x. A compression spring 118 is interposed between the outer edge of each mirror and the adjacent side wall 26x. The mirrors are disposed at an angle to each other when closed and function the same as the mirrors 62a and 64a of FIGS. 9 to 1l, inclusive.

A plunger 120 having a pointed end 122 adapted to ride on the tapered inner top end edges of the mirrors and open up the mirrors against the action of the springs is shown, the plunger extending through a slot 124 in the top wall 30x with a finger piece 126 on the outer end thereof. A compression spring 128 around the body of the plunger and seated on t-he top wall and impinging against the finger piece holds the plunger in inoperative position.

In FIGS. 13 to 16, inclusive, a liner-up device 18ml embodying a still further modified form of the invention is shown. The metal box-like casing 24ml is similar to the casing 24 of FIG. 1 except the bottom wall 32aa is in the form of a casting and in plaoe of the brackets 54, 54 of FIG. 1, an upright pedestal 52ml is welded to the bottom wall 32aa. The pedestal 54aa is square in cross section and adjacent surfaces S of the pedestal are faceted for positioning the crossed mirrors 62aa and 64cm, which mirrors are clamped in position by clamp screw assemblies 130.

A mounting sleeve or socket 132 is formed integrally with the bottom wall 32ml and depends therefrom. The sleeve or socket receives the top end of the stick 20aa which is secured in position by a set screw 134. The

stick is hollow and open ended and is formed with an elongated closed slot 135 adjacent its bottom end. The bottom end of the stick seats in a mounting sleeve or socket 138 extending upwardly from the center of a rectangular shaped base plate 140 formed wit-h a flange 142 around the ibottom peripheral edge thereof for resting on a horizontal supporting surface. An elongated spike 144 is slidably mounted in the bottom of the stick ml. A handle 146 extends laterally of the top end of the spike outwardly through the slot 135 in the stick 20ml for manipulating the spike. The bottom end of the spike is pointed as indicated at 148 for driving into the ground. A compression spring 150 is sleeved laround the spike inside the stick, one end seating on the bottom end of the slot 135 and the other end impinging against the handle 146 for urging the spike upwardly into the stick.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. v

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the kind described comprising an elongated round stick adapted to be inserted into the ground, a rectangular box-like hollow casing supported on top of the stick, said casing having side, end and top walls and being open at the bottom, a closure plate closing said open bottom, said ybottom plate having means for fixing the top of the stick thereto, a window in one end wall of the casing, the other end wall having a slit therein extending from the top thereof to a point remote from the bottom thereof, whereby a viewer can view a football playing field, the side walls having opposed longitudinal openings adapted to be placed over a side line of the football playing field, means inside the casing for casting the image of parallel lines received through the side openings, across the view of playing field, said one end window having a central vertical line therein adapted to coact with the parallel lines cast across the playing field for indicating the correct position of a football during play, when viewed through the slit, said slit being enlarged at its top end forming a peep hole for detecting the football therethrough.

2. A device of the kind described comprising an elongated round stick adapted to be inserted into the ground, a rectangular box-like hollow casing supported on top of the stick, said casing having side, end and top walls and being open at the bottom, a closure plate closing said open bottom, said bottom plate having means for fixing the top of the stick thereto, a window in one end wall of the casing, the other end wall having a slit therein extending from the top thereof to a point remote from the bottom thereof, whereby a viewer can view a football playing field, the side walls having opposed elongated openings adapted to be placed over a side line of a football playing field, a pair of mirrors fixedly mounted on the bottom closure plate inside the casing, said mirrors being disposed at an angle to the slit in the end wall, one mirror being disposed on a plane above the other mirror, said window having a central vertical line thereon adapted to coact with the image of parallel lines received through the elongated openings in the side walls and .cast across the view of playing field by the mirrors for indicating the correct position of a footballv during play, when viewed through the slit, said slit being enlarged at its top end forming a peep hole for detecting the football through the slit.

3. A `device of the kind described comprising an elongated round stick adapted to be inserted into the ground, a rectangular box-like hollow casing supported on top of the stick, said casing having side, end and top walls and being open at the bottom, a closure plate closing said open bottom, said bottom plate having means for fixing the top of the stick thereto, a window in one end wall of the casing, the other end Wall having a slit therein extending from the top thereof to a point remote from the bottom thereof, the side walls having opposed elongated openings adapted to be placed over a side line of a football playing field, a pair of upstanding mirrors having adjacent long edges, slidably mounted on the bottom closure plate, the individual mirrors being disposed at an obtuse angle to each other and normally contacting along the adjacent long edges thereof, means for sliding said mirrors away from each other actuated from exteriorally of the casing, means inside the casing for automatically retracting the mirrors, said mirrors being disposed at an angle to the slit in the end wall, said mirrors adapted to receive refiections through the elongate-d openings in the side walls, said reflections being viewable through the slit in the end wall and indicating the correct position of a football during play.

4. A device of the kind described in claim 3 wherein the mirrors are supported on elongated slidable brackets having outer long edges and having bases extending at right angles to the bodies of the brackets, said bases having elongated closed slots receiving guide pins projecting upwardly from the bottom closure plate, and a plunger supported on the slitted end wall of the casing, said plunger having a tapered end normally engaging the brackets whereby inward manual movement of the plunger causes sliding and separation of the brackets and supported mirrors and a finger piece on the outer end of the plunger for actuating the plunger.

5. A device of the kind described in claim 4 wherein the means for automatically retracting the mirrors consists of an elongated spring member looped upon itself at its center fixedly secured to the bottom closure plate and forming diverging arms, said arms normally engaging the outer long edges of the brackets and urging the brackets which the mirrors thereon towards each other.

6. A device of the kind described in claim 3 wherein the mirrors have top adjacent corners and outer long edges and are tiltably mounted in an elongated recess in the bottomv closure plate of the casing, the top adjacent corners of the mirrors being tapered inwardly, springs interposed between the outer long edges of the mirrors and the side walls of the casing for holding the mirrors against tilting movement, the top wall of the casing above the center of the mirrors having a slit therein, a plunger movable through the slit and extending inwardly and outwardly of the casing, a tapered head on the inner end of the plunger adapted to ride on the tapered corner portions of the mirrors and tilt the mirrors apart on their seats in the recess, a finger piece on the outer end of the plunger for moving the plunger inwardly and a compression spring sleeved around the outer end of the plunger between the finger piece and top wall of the casing for urging the plunger outwardly.

7. A device of the kind described comprising an elongated hollow round stick open at its ends, said stick having an elongated closed slot at one end thereof, a rectangular box-like hollow casing supported on the top of the stick, said casing having side, end and top walls and being open at the bottom, a closure plate closing said open bottom, a mounting sleeve depending from the bottom surface of the closure plate receiving the top of the holow stick, means for fastening the stick in the mounting sleeve, a window in one end wall of the casing, the other end wall having a slit therein extending from the top thereof to a point remote from the bottom thereof, the side walls having opposed elongated openings adapted to be placed over a side line of a football playing field, an upright pedestal on the bottom closure plate, a pair of mirrors having adjacent long edges mounted on the pedestal, the individual mirrors being disposed at an obtuse angle to each other and normally contacting along the adjacent long edges thereof, said mirrors being disposed at an angle to the slit in the end wall, said mirrors adapted to receive reflections through the elongated openings in the side Walls, said reflections being viewable through the slit in the end wall and indicating the correct position of a football during play, a rectangular shaped base plate on the bottom end of the stick, an upstanding mounting sleeve on the top surface of the base plate receiving the bottom end of the stick, said plate having an opening therein aligned with the mounting sleeve, a spike slidably mounted in the bottom end of the stick and adapted to be moved outwardly of the base plate, and means for moving said spike outwardly of the base plate for fastening the device in the ground.

8. A device of the kind described comprising an elongated hollow round stick open at its ends, said stick having an elongated closed slot at one end thereof, a rectangular box-like hollow casing supported on the top of the stick, said casing having side, end and top Walls and being open at the bottom, a closure plate closing said open bottom, a mounting sleeve depending from the bottom surface of the closure plate receiving the top of the hollow stick, means for fastening the stick in the mounting sleeve, a window in one end wall of the casing, the other end wall having a slit therein extending from the top thereof to a point remote from the bottom thereof, the side walls having opposed elongated openings adapted to be placed over a side line of a football playing field, an upright pedestal on the bottom closure plate, a pair of mirrors having adjacent long edges mounted on the pedestal, the individual mirrors being disposed at an obtuse angle to each other and normally contacting along the adjacent long edges thereof, said mirrors being disposed at au angle to the slit in the end Wall, said mirrors adapted to receive reflections through the elongated openings in the side walls, said reflections being viewable through the slit in the end wall and indicating the correct position of a football during play, a rectangular shaped base plate on the bottorn end of the stick, an upstanding mounting sleeve on the top surface of the base plate receiving the bottom end of the stick, said plate having an opening therein aligned with the mounting sleeve, a spike slidably mounted in the bottom end of the stick and adapted to be moved outwardly of the base plate, and means for moving said spike outwardly of the base plate for fastening the device in the ground, said means including a handle extending laterally of the top end of the spike extending through the slot 45 in the stick, a compression spring around the spike inside 8 the stick, said spring impinging against the handle for urging the spike inside the stick, said spike adapted to be forced into the ground by stepping on the handle thereon against the action of the compression spring.

9. A device of the kind described comprising an elongated round stick adapted to be inserted into the ground, a rectangular box-like hollow casing supported on top of the stick, said casing having side, end and top walls and being open at the bottom, a closure plate closing said open bottom, said bottom plate having means for fixing the top of the stick thereto, a window in one end wall of the casing, the other end wall having a slit therein extending from the top thereof to a point remote from the bottom thereof, whereby a viewer can view a playing field, the side walls having opposed longitudinal openings adapted to be placed over a side line of the football playing field, means inside the casing for casting the image of parallel lines received through the side openings, across the view of playing eld, said window having a central vertical line therein adapted to coact with the view of parallel lines cast across the view of playing eld for indicating the correct position of a football during play, when viewed through the slit, one of the end walls and the adjacent portions of the side walls being enlarged and curved and the longitudinal openings being in the curved portions of the side walls, opposed curved plates pivotally mounted on the casing for closing the longitudinal openings, said curved plates having longitudinal openings adapted to register with the openings in the side walls, and means on the top wall of the casing for moving said closure plates to and fro including a reciprocating toothed rack bar and teeth on the curved plates meshing with the teeth on the rack bar, an actuating knob on one end of the rack bar, and a strap on the top wall of the casing for guiding the movements of the rack bar.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,335,066 ll/l943 Lamar 33-46 2,835,036 5/1958 Peresenyi 33-46 3,213,824 1-0/1965 Jenkins 248-156 LEONARD FORMAN, Primary Examiner.

I. M. FREED, Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE OF THE KIND DESCRIBED COMPRISING AN ELONGATED ROUND STICK ADAPTED TO BE INSERTED INTO THE GROUND, A RECTANGULAR BOX-LIKE HOLLOW CASING SUPPORTED ON TOP OF THE STICK, SAID CASING HAVING SIDE, END AND TOP WALLS AND BEING OPEN AT THE BOTTOM, A CLOSURE PLATE CLOSING SAID OPEN BOTTOM, SAID BOTTOM PLATE HAVING MEANS FOR FIXING THE TOP OF THE STICK THERETO, A WINDOW IN ONE END WALL OF THE CASING, THE OTHER END WALL HAVING A SLIT THEREIN EXTENDING FROM THE TOP THEREOF TO A POINT REMOTE FROM THE BOTTOM THEREOF, WHEREBY A VIEWER CAN VIEW A FOOTBALL PLAYING FIELD, THE SIDE WALLS HAVING OPPOSED LONGITUDINAL OPENINGS ADAPTED TO BE PLACED OVER A SIDE LINE OF THE FOOTBALL PLAYING FIELD, MEANS INSIDE THE CASING FOR CASTING THE IMAGE OF PARALLEL LINES RECEIVED THROUGH THE SIDE OPENINGS, ACROSS THE VIEW OF PLAYING FIELD, SAID ONE END WINDOW HAVING A CENTRAL VERTICAL LINE THEREIN ADAPTED TO COACT WITH THE PARALLEL LINES CAST ACROSS THE PLAYING FIELD FOR INDICATING THE CORRECT POSITION OF A FOOTBALL DURING WHEN VIEWED THROUGH THE SLIT, SAID SLIT BEING ENLARGED AT ITS TOP END FORMING A PEEP HOLE FOR DETECTING THE FOOTBALL THERETHROUGH. 